Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
In these words, Jesus paints a vivid picture of abundance. His promise is not that we will simply receive in proportion to what we give, but that the return will be overflowing—pressed down, shaken together, running over. It is an image of generosity without limits, of blessings that cannot be contained.
Here Jesus teaches us a profound principle of reciprocity: when we give freely, we step into the flow of God’s generosity. Our giving becomes the channel through which God pours His goodness into the lives of others—and in the process, we too are blessed.
Yet in our world, abundance often seems trapped by human blockages—self-interest, greed, and inequality in distribution. As one writer observed: “Abundance isn't God's provision for me to live in luxury. It's His provision for me to help others live. God entrusts me with His money not to build my kingdom on earth, but to build His kingdom in heaven.”
A small boy once went to church with his mother. When the offering plate was passed, she handed him a coin to place in. He looked at it, hesitated, and whispered: “But Mum, if I give this away, then I won’t have it anymore.” Smiling, she bent down and whispered back: “Ah, but when you give it, God makes sure it does even more than it could in your pocket.”The boy reluctantly dropped it in—and later that week, the very church he gave to organised the club where he spent many happy hours with new friends. His tiny act of giving had returned to him far more than he imagined.
Like the boy, we are invited to trust that what we release to God never leaves us empty-handed. Instead, it multiplies—both in blessing others and in blessing us.
To hold tightly to what we have is like grasping sand in a clenched fist—what we keep is limited, and much slips away unused. But when our hand is open, the sand can pile high, and others can share in its overflow. So it is with generosity: when we open our lives, God multiplies what we have so that others may be blessed.
Perhaps today we might reflect: Where is God calling me to open my hand? How can I allow His blessings to pass through me to others in need?
Prayer
Gracious and generous God, Giver of every good gift,
we thank You for the blessings that fill our lives—
for the beauty of creation, for family and friends,
for work and rest, for hope and joy.
Teach us the freedom of an open hand and an open heart.
Where there is need, give us compassion.
Where there is abundance, give us wisdom to share.
May our generosity reflect Yours,
so that in serving others we may serve You.
Keep us faithful stewards of all You entrust to us,
and guide us always by Your Spirit,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
